Samsung launches the Fold8 with passport format and the question is not only why this format, it is why now

As already marks the summer tradition in the tech universe, Samsung has just presented new foldables. The different thing this time is that there are no longer two, but three models presented and the novelty is that the Galaxy Fold8 launches a new passport type formatmore square and compact when folded and more panoramic when open. The question we ask ourselves is why this format? But above all, why now? Samsung was a pioneer in folding products and has been betting on two very specific formats for eight generations now, the Fold and the Flip. That they add a third format is striking because it is the first time that Samsung does not set the standard and follows that of others. Let us remember that this format was first explored by OPPO with the OPPO Find N2and later by Huawei with the Huawei Pure X. The difference, and it’s not just any difference, is that this is the first to be sold in Spain. Returning to the question of timing; with the serious crisis of components that we are going through, with prices through the roof and manufacturers dropping that Maybe we don’t need a new high-end every yearSamsung arrives and presents not two, but three folding ones. And also taking risks with a new format. We have come to London to learn first-hand about Samsung’s new launches and we have taken the opportunity to ask Javier Vitón, product manager at Samsung Spain, about these issues. Before continuing, we remind you that the members of Xataka Xtra can access discounts, benefits and exclusive opportunities in the Samsung online storein addition to exclusive raffles, a private Discord server and a growing catalog of discounts and advantages on digital services. You can join the community for only 30 euros per year. A foldable for each type of client Samsung’s foldable trio for 2026 Samsung launched the first Fold in 2019 and in 2020 the Galaxy Z Flip. Since then, they have remained faithful to these two formats, with a clear distinction to the type of user they were aimed at: the Fold for those looking for maximum productivity and cutting-edge specifications, and the Flip for a younger audience and with a more affordable price. The new Fold with passport format is placed halfway between both: It has the advantage of a much larger screen, but when folded it is more compact than the classic Fold. Javier Vitón tells us that “We do not like to see the folding family as a family of devices tiered in specs and prices, but rather as a device for each type of person.” The Fold8 Ultra is the model for those who “want to get the most out of that large screen and be able to multitask with the highest product specifications,” while the new Fold8 is “perfectly suited to consuming multimedia content” and the Flip is more aimed at “very expressive young people.” In 2013 Samsung already said what they wanted to offer a mobile for each type of user and today, thirteen years later, we see that The strategy hasn’t changed much. “What we are looking for is a device for every need,” says Vitón, adding that the strategy goes beyond folding “Also with the S, the Galaxy A family… there is surely a product that can fit for each customer.” However, it is still curious that, in the midst of a component crisiswith the prices of RAM and memory through the roof, Samsung has decided to launch a third folding mobile phone. David Alonso, vice president of Samsung, is aware of this problem, but as he stated in statements to Xataka, “our scale, technological capacity, strategic alliances and supply planning allow us to respond with greater flexibility while maintaining investment in innovation to minimize its impact. The highest priority for Samsung is to ensure availability and stability of supply, compliance with our commitments to the consumer and offering real value to the user.” “Even in a complex context, we believe it is important to continue expanding the category with differentiated proposals” In his own words, “the arrival of Galaxy Z Fold8 responds to this long-term commitment. We have identified a clear evolution in the way people watch content, read, browse and play from their mobile, and this new format offers a more natural and immersive screen, allowing us to offer the lightest Galaxy Z Fold to date.” For Alonso, “even in a complex context, we believe that it is important to continue expanding the category with differentiated proposals that respond to real needs.” The strong point of the Fold8 This is what a 4:3 video looks like on the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra The new Galaxy Fold8 was born after analyzing user behavior: “It has a 4:3 screen format that is ideal for consuming games, playing multimedia content such as videos or movies or watching sports.” In the image it is clearly seen: The videos adapt much better to the internal screen of the Fold8 than that of the Fold8 Ultra. In some videos that are more panoramic we still have the classic black bands at the top and bottom, but they are much thinner and the screen is better used. Regarding the external screen, Vitón tells us that “it has a 10:16 format that adapts perfectly to consuming social networks” and also highlights that it is very comfortable for writing. Unlike the Flip screen where we can only open some apps, here we have a perfectly functional mobile phone, only with a much more square format than we are used to. From what I have been able to try, I have found it quite comfortable, although I have to say that handling it with one hand seemed somewhat complicated at first. We’ll see in the review. The elephant in the room: the foldable iPhone Perhaps the answer to the question of why now is related to a fact that is difficult to ignore, and that is that everything indicates that Apple … Read more

Xiaomi launches its first wireless mouse with TOG omnidirectional sensor

If you are one of those who telework in cafes, travel often or simply have a glass desk at home, you will know how annoying it is to always depend on a mouse pad to make the mouse respond. Xiaomi wants to end this problem at its roots. The Asian firm has just presented its new Xiaomi Wireless Mouse Pro 4a device that stands out for incorporating an advanced sensor capable of sliding anywhere and a combination of premium technologies at a ridiculous price: 199 yuan, about 29 euros to change. Thanks to its TOG sensor you can forget about difficult surfaces The great jewel in the crown of this mouse is its TOG sensor (Track-On-Glass). Unlike traditional optical sensors that go crazy when placed on reflective materials, Xiaomi’s technology allows you to track movements with complete precision even on transparent glass surfaces (as long as they are at least 4 mm thick). To adapt to all types of tasks, from standard office automation to photo editing, it has a top LED indicator and three factory presets to regulate sensitivity levels at 1,000, 1,600 and 2,400 DPI. A mouse with intelligent scrolling and silent clicks Beyond its all-terrain sensor, Xiaomi has borrowed a function from high-end mice from brands like Logitech: a dynamic electromagnetic scroll wheel. If you move your finger slowly, the scroll behaves gradually (line by line) to read documents calmly; But if you give it a quick touch, the mechanism automatically releases, entering free spin mode to go down at full speed along kilometer-long webs. Thinking of those who work in libraries or shared offices, the main left and right clicks mount TTC silent switches. They have a slightly longer key travel to maintain that physical tactile sensation when pressing, but without making almost any noise. Triple connectivity and easy setup In the connectivity section, the Xiaomi Wireless Mouse 4 Pro is a versatile device. It allows you to pair and switch between up to three devices simultaneously: one through its 2.4 GHz USB receiver (which stores magnetically under the top cover) and another two through Bluetooth 5.0. Switching between your computer, tablet or laptop is as easy as pressing a dedicated button on the base. Finally, Xiaomi forgets about heavy and intrusive configuration software. This model debuts a drivers web basedwhich means that you only need to open your Internet browser to remap its metal side buttons or adjust the device’s performance, without having to install anything in the operating system at all. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: Xiaomi Wireless Mouse Pro 4 wireless mouse ✅ THE BEST Goodbye to limitations: Being able to use it on glass tables without a mat is a joy for mobile productivity. Web control: It is a huge success to be able to customize the side buttons directly from the browser, ideal if you use it on work computers where they do not allow you to install programs. ❌ THE WORST It runs on batteries… Unlike other models that recharge via USB-C, this one maintains the traditional battery compartment, so you will depend on external batteries. Small size… With dimensions of 115.5 x 62 x 36.5 mm and a weight of only 66 grams (without battery), it is very focused on small or medium-sized hands. If you have large hands or are looking for a purely ergonomic palm grip (palm grip), you will fall short. 💡 BUY IT IF… You are a mobile user, student or professional who works with a laptop in different locations and is looking for a light, silent and all-terrain mouse that never fails, regardless of the surface of the table where you rest it. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… Are you looking for minimal latencies and high polling rates for competitive gaming or are someone who suffers from wrist pain and needs a large ergonomic mouse with thumb support. And while this model arrives in Spain, we recommend these other mice Logitech Signature M650 L wireless mouse The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Rapoo MT760L Wireless Mouse The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Logitech Pebble Mouse 2 M350s The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Gizmo China In Xataka | Five things to keep in mind before buying a computer mouse In Xataka | Best gaming mice: which one to buy and 11 recommended models

China launches the first factory for personalized vaccines with artificial intelligence

Cancer treatment is on the verge of a historic revolution driven by the hyperpersonalization of medicine. Until now we were working with the idea of ​​manufacturing general medicines to treat cancer, but the idea of ​​manufacturing a unique and exclusive medicine for the genetics of each patient’s tumor has been around for years in laboratories, but the great bottleneck has always been the manufacturing time and, logically, the immense costs. A new step. China just gave the green light to the world’s first production line for cancer vaccines powered entirely by artificial intelligence. Located in Beijing, this facility is owned by Likang Life Sciences, a firm that has invested approximately $16.1 million in setting up a factory designed to operate at unprecedented speed. Its most advanced product is the LK101 neoantigen vaccine and it delegates the complex task of sequencing tumor DNApromising to synthesize customized doses in just one day. The definitive objective of this technological deployment is for patients to receive their personalized injection a few days after undergoing the biopsy. Why an AI? The key here is in the “neoantigens”, small mutated proteins that are exclusively in tumor cells and in each patient we find specific antigens. Here AI intervenes as an ultra-fast analytical engine by scrutinizing the tumor’s genetic information and predicting which parts of the antigen will be most effective in awakening and directing immune system cells to kill the tumor. Because here the only thing we seek is to activate the natural defenses we have, as we already do with immunotherapy, so that it is able to find tumor cells and destroy them, just as it does, for example, when we have an infection. But this is a process that requires great personalization and, above all, great speed to act as soon as possible on patients. And this is something an AI can do. for a long time Science has been paving this path, as we saw with an article published in 2024 which demonstrated that the integration of AI in the design of mRNA and DNA oncological vaccines is essential to know with maximum accuracy the composition of a tumor and its weak points. And to avoid failures, the algorithms are trained with large databases that we already have, where all the possible variants that a tumor may have are found. Another good news is that pioneering publications in Nature had already demonstrated the feasibility of RNA vaccines to induce specific and memory immune responses in patients with melanoma or even in such lethal and complex tumors. like pancreatic cancer. The nuance. It must be made very clear, first of all, that the promising results obtained in animals do not directly guarantee success in all patients, with clinical efficacy in humans still being very limited. And currently the vast majority of studies focused on this new personalized treatment are in very early stages. On the other hand, although China has built the first large algorithmic factory, its clinical research ecosystem remains very closed, and the data indicates that between 2014 and 2024 89 clinical trials of oncological vaccines were registered in this country. Something that greatly clashes with the 757 tests that have been carried out in the United States in this same period. And more limited. Added to this is that Chinese trials have an almost exclusively domestic vocation, with barely 2.2% global reach compared to 47.6% in the United States. But they also address less oncological diversity, focusing on about 5 types of cancer compared to the more than 20 studied by North American competitors. Images | Testalize In Xataka | Cancer in people under 50 years of age has been growing for decades. A macro study finally points to the big culprit: biological aging

Philips launches new air fryer for small kitchens with double basket and windows to see the food

Philips has new air fryer. This appliance has become an essential in many kitchens, no matter if it is for large or small families. There are different capacities to cook large quantities of food, but when it comes to cook variety instead of quantitybetter if the fryer has two baskets. That’s where the Philips 4000 series fits in, available in Spain for 229.99 euros. 4000 series Airfryer with double stackable basket The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Double basket, but without taking up half the kitchen As we say, there are many air fryers that have double baskets. This is something very interesting because it allows you to cook two foods at the same time, each with its own temperature and cooking time. For example, you can make some wings in one of the baskets while you have vegetables or potatoes in the other. Philips is committed to this distribution with its 4000 series, but it does so with a compact appliance that barely measures 24 centimeters wide. Each of these baskets has a total capacity of 5 liters and the fryer is designed so that the air circulates evenly throughout the interior. Furthermore, each basket It has a window so we can see the inside without having to open itsomething key because, by doing this, we are releasing a large part of the heat from the interior. The fryer has 6 automatic programs and up to 13 different cooking techniques, such as dehydrating or gratin, among others. One of its best features is that it has a system that allows you to automatically synchronize the time of both basketsso you can set different temperatures and cooking times, but both will finish cooking at the same time. ⚡ IN BRIEF: Philips 4000 Series Air Fryer ✅ THE BEST Double basket for small kitchens: This type of double compartment fryers is usually very large. The Philips breaks this trend and is positioned as a top option if you don’t have much space. Window to see its interior: Being able to see the inside of the basket without opening it is not only very cool, but it is very useful when cooking. Cooking synchronization: You can put two foods in the baskets that require different times and temperatures and they will still finish at the same time. ❌ THE WORST It has a high introductory price: It costs almost 230 euros and arrives in stores without a launch promo, which means it is not for all budgets. 💡 BUY IT IF… You want an air fryer that allows you to cook two dishes at once and you have a small kitchen or you want it to take up as little space as possible. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You’re on a tight budget or you usually use the air fryer for a single food. You may also be interested Cosori Large Air Fryer with Double Basket 8.5L Air Fryer, High Power and Speed, Max 8-10 People, 10 Functions, Stainless Steel Interior with Bail, Healthier, Intuitive Touch Panel, Cleanable The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Cecotec Oil-Free Air Fryer 9L or Double Bucket 4.5L Cecofry Advance 9000 Window Plus. 2200W, Dividing Wall, Dual Temperature, Display Window, 8 Menus, Temp 60-200 ºC, Touch Panel The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Philips In Xataka | Which Cosori air fryer to buy according to your needs In Xataka | The best air fryer for 4 people. Which one to buy? Tips and recommendations

a helicopter without a cabin that launches combat drones

In February 2022, a Black Hawk helicopter took off, sailed and landed all alone for half an hour without anyone on board. What then seemed like a futuristic demonstration is now quickly becoming a new category of military aircraft. The end of one era and the beginning of another. Europe has been pursuing the dream of a large sixth-generation fighter capable of competing with the American and Chinese programs for years, but the FCAS lockout has once again highlighted the enormous political, industrial and budgetary difficulties that accompany this type of project. While the future of the European fighter jet is blurred between disputes over intellectual property, the distribution of work and rising costs, Airbus has taken advantage of the Berlin air show to submit a proposal much more aligned with the real trends that are transforming current battlefields: a autonomous aircraft, without cabin and designed to operate alongside drones. The contrast is striking because while the great symbol of European air power seems stagnant, the company is betting on technologies that are already demonstrating their value in conflicts such as the one in Ukraine. A helicopter without pilots or cabin. The new U145 is based on the successful H145 helicoptera platform with more than 1,800 examples in service and more than 8.5 million flight hours accumulated worldwide. However, Airbus has completely removed the cabinso that the aircraft cannot be piloted by humans under any circumstances. Instead, it incorporates autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and a set of sensors that will manage the flight independently. The company plans to carry out a first flight with a safety pilot before the end of 2026 and begin entering service at the beginning of the next decade. The philosophy is simple: take advantage of an already proven platform, with a consolidated logistics chain and known maintenance costs, to accelerate the leap towards autonomous operations without having to develop a completely new aircraft from scratch. From transport helicopter to autonomous aerial truck. The U145 has been conceived primarily as a logistics platform capable of operating in dangerous environments where sending human crews poses an increasing risk. With a maximum takeoff weight of 3,800 kilograms and a load capacity close to 1,200 kilogramsincorporates a large folding front door, a folding loading platform and a reinforced floor to facilitate the transport of supplies. Airbus imagines it supplying advanced units, carrying out emergency missions, supporting operations in remote areas or acting in scenarios where the threat of drones, missiles or electronic warfare makes the use of conventional helicopters increasingly difficult. It is a vision that fits with the conclusions that many armed forces are extracting from Ukraine: Logistics has become one of the priority objectives of the modern battlefield. The real bet: mothership. However, the most revealing feature of the project is not its autonomy or its cargo capacity, but the role that Airbus reserves for it in the future. The U145 is being developed to perform as mother platform capable of transporting and launching drones for reconnaissance, surveillance, attack or loitering munitions. Airbus is already working on this concept together with MBDA, one of the main European missile manufacturers, within the ecosystem of the called “launched effects”. The idea is to use relatively cheap and expendable aircraft to deploy swarms of autonomous systems on the battlefield. In other words, while Europe discusses how to build a sophisticated sixth-generation fighter, Airbus is betting on an architecture where an increasing part of the combat will be carried out. by drones launched from autonomous platforms that do not even need pilots. Ukraine as a laboratory. The appearance of U145 cannot be understood without observing what is happening in Ukraine. There the drones have completely transformed the way to fight, from reconnaissance missions to the destruction of armored vehicles, anti-aircraft systems and logistics centers. The conflict has shown that relatively inexpensive platforms can generate disproportionate strategic effects and that pilot survival in highly contested environments is increasingly complicated. Airbus, in fact, is not the only company that has reached this conclusion. Similar projects appear in the United States like the MQ-72C derived from Lakota, the U-Hawk based on the Black Hawk or Boeing’s plans to evolve the Chinook into autonomous configurations. The difference is that Europe seemed focused on chasing the next big fighter plane while the rest of the world explored new ways to automate warfare. European strategic autonomy takes another path. There is no doubt, although Airbus insist In that the U145 does not respond to any specific national program, its appearance coincides with a moment in which Europe seeks to reduce its technological and military dependence on the United States. The autonomous helicopter fits perfectly into this strategy because it takes advantage of a European platform, is integrated into a European industrial ecosystem and allows develop own capabilities in one of the most promising sectors of current defense. The implicit message is difficult to ignore: the great European fighter may be increasingly further away to materialize, but the continental industry continues to look for ways to maintain its military relevance. And while sixth-generation projects are consumed by endless negotiations, Airbus appears to have identified an alternative path much closer to the reality of future conflicts: autonomous aircraft, without a cabin, connected in a network and capable of deploying combat drones where sending a pilot no longer makes sense. Image | Airbus In Xataka | The future European fighter in which Spain participates has received the worst news. And it comes directly from France In Xataka | Airbus has just made the most autonomous commercial aircraft in the world fly. Your goal: 22 hours straight without a stopover

MSI launches the world’s first desktop gaming PC with an AI agent in the form of a ‘hologram’

Computex 2026 has already ended, but it has left us with several interesting announcements. We already told you a few days ago how MSI had presented several monitorsincluding the first triple-resolution QD-OLED gaming monitor ever manufactured. The same manufacturer has also done something quite curious: it has put an artificial intelligence agent in a gaming PC. And he did it with the appearance of a ‘hologram’. An AI that will help you configure your PC without touching anything A few months ago we brought you an analysis of MSI’s first MEG Visiona gaming PC with an RTX 5090 and where we had a huge screen crowning the tower that gave access to a lot of different functions. The new MSI PC goes in that same direction, although in this case combining an AI agent that runs inside the computer and that has a much more physical presence. Instead of a conventional screen like the previous device had, this MEG Vision X 2 AI⁺ has a cylindrical screen that is integrated within the chassis. In this way, MSI’s AI (called LuckyClaw) will be there in the form of a kind of ‘hologram’ that gives the device a very futuristic look. Be careful, because it is not something merely cosmetic. This artificial intelligence responds to natural voice commandsso it is not necessary to interact with it physically. In this way, we can be immersed in the middle of the game and change things such as RGB lighting, monitor settings or even computer performance profiles without touching anything. What more can we expect from this team? In addition to the above, it will also bring the best NVIDIA graphics card, an Intel Core Ultra processor, WiFi 7 connectivity and a liquid cooling system that is designed to be very quiet even if we push the equipment hard. At the moment, it has no price or release date. New mini PCs and an ‘All in One’ In addition to the previous PC, MSI has also presented other options more oriented to the world of work and productivity, but designed for users looking for equipment that takes up very little space. There we can place the Pro Max Edge AI 11M, an ultra-compact 4-liter device that comes with AMD processors and integrated graphics cards. This, in fact, can be configured with up to 128 GB of unified memory, ideal for working with AI models locally. In addition to this, it has also presented the Pro Max 27TP Z 8MG, an ‘All in One’ device (i.e. It’s all integrated into the screen). It is a computer that even integrates a webcam in a monitor that has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and has an AMD Ryzen 7 255 processor inside. Finally, we also have the new computers that make up the Cubi Nuc AI WCG line. They are very compact devices, designed for both the work world and the home environment. It is an interesting alternative for those users who do not have space for a large PC nor do they want a laptop. Some interesting PCs with a discount from the MSI store These devices are not yet available to buy, as we said above, but there are very interesting options in the MSI store now that we have a 10% discount on everything in it, both complete devices and peripherals. Below we leave you a couple of examples. MSI MPG Trident AS AI If you are looking for a gaming PC, this MPG Trident AS AI is a good option right now. It is a device with an Intel Core Ultra 5 225F as a processor, 16 GB of DDR5 type RAM and a 1 TB SSD. In addition, it has an RTX 5060 Ti as a graphics card. If we take into account the current price of RAM and SSDsit is a top option with the discount it has: it is reduced to 1,399 euros, but with the code ‘COMPUTEXMSI‘ stays in 1,259.10 euros. MSI MPG Trident AS AI 2NVM5-074EU | Gaming PC The price could vary. We earn commission from these links If you want to accompany the previous computer with an ultrawide monitorthis MAG401QR is a top option. It has an IPS panel, 155 Hz and a refresh rate of 1 ms, making it a very interesting option for video games. In addition, it has a good UWQHD resolution (3,440 x 1440 pixels), so it also It is ideal for working with several windows open at the same time. With the same coupon that we indicated above you stay in 323.10 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | MSI In Xataka | DDR4 or DDR5? What RAM to choose so as not to pay even more than necessary in the middle of the price crisis In Xataka | Faster (and more expensive) is not always better: the big difference between buying an SSD and an HDD for backups

Spain launches radio frequency detectors to hunt penguins and AI

June and July are two months that almost 300,000 students in Spain have marked on their calendars, as they face the University Access Test (PAU). And in some classrooms they also face it with extra surveillance measures for those who copy. We are referring to radio frequency detectors, small devices designed to hunt down hidden devices that some students could use to copy, especially if there is AI involved. What exactly are they? They are not signal inhibitors, but detectors. In this sense, a jammer blocks communications, while these devices only locate them. Héctor Esteban, professor in the area of ​​Signal Theory and Communications at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, counted to El Español that are electromagnetic radiation detectors costing about 10 or 12 euros that track WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G, 4G and 5G networks in a very broad spectrum. When they detect a nearby signal, they warn with a beep or vibration. Stephen himself describes them such as devices as small “as a pen”, that the teacher can carry in his pocket in vibration mode so that the alert goes unnoticed by the rest of the classroom. What are they aiming for? The objective is not so much conventional mobile phones as technology that is difficult to see with the naked eye. The vice-rector of Students of the Complutense University, Rosa de la Fuente, counted that “we are concerned about everything that could be used to commit fraud”, such as micro-earphones and AI glasses generative, since they are devices with which we can easily obtain responses from another person abroad or from any chatbot. Where are they used? The measure does not currently apply throughout Spain. The six public universities of Madrid launched the detectors at the beginning of the month for their more than 42,000 students. Added to these are communities such as Galicia, Murcia, Aragon, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and the Basque Country, among others. The devices are not in all classrooms at the same time. Cristina Moreno, vice-rector of the University of the Balearic Islands assured that the devices rotate through the different locations, but not necessarily during all the tests. What happens if the alert goes off. If the detector vibrates, the exam is “flagged” and the student continues taking the exam as normal. Afterwards, it is the court of headquarters that analyzes the case and decides. However, the sanctions are not identical throughout Spain, because each community sets its own framework. In Madrid, according to counted de la Fuente, three levels are distinguished: a minor fault leaves the exam marked but preserves the grade; a serious one, such as having your cell phone on, can cancel that exam; and a very serious one, such as the active use of a earpiece, can invalidate the entire Selectivity. In other locations the criteria is more severe, as is the case of the Polytechnic of Valencia, where in some cases it is enough for them to find a mobile phone on them, even if it is turned off, to fail the subject. It is not a perfect method. Jesús Alcalde, cybersecurity specialist, counted to The Objective that the scope is limited, because the devices only alert active signals, can give false positives in full classrooms and do not always allow them to prove themselves that there has been copying. Its greatest value, in reality, is as a deterrent. Héctor Esteban illustrated it counting that, in one of the first tests, it was enough to announce that the detector was going to be passed for fifteen students to get up to hand over the cell phone that they should not have brought. Why is it coming just now? The trigger is the emergence of generative AI, which has turned the old problem of copying into something much more complex to deal with. However, the universities themselves recognize that this is a pilot project that they will have to review each course, because at the end of the day the technology for cheating advances as quickly as the tools to detect it. And now what. Radiofrequency covers only part of the problem, and many in the academic field believe that the underlying solution is not in the devices, but in changing the way of evaluating. Stephen himself point towards oral exams, common in countries like Italy, or the in-person defense of papers. Cover image | Ben Mullins and Alberto Ortega (Europa Press) In Xataka | Someone has created the website “is AI profitable anymore?” to answer the question of our time in real time

Blue Origin had a plan of 12 launches for this year. A fireball at Cape Canaveral just changed everything

Bad news for Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company. And his New Glenn rocket It exploded this morning into a huge fireball while conducting a ground test at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The accident, which fortunately left no injuries, is a good blow for the company in his race to compete with SpaceXjust when this was going to be his definitive breakout year. That has passed. Around 9:00 p.m. local time (3:00 a.m. on Friday on the Spanish peninsula), the New Glenn exploded during a ‘hotfire’, a test in which the rocket engines are turned on while the vehicle remains anchored to the platform, without taking off. The objective of this test is to check the operation of the engines before a launch. Blue Origin itself He spoke on his X account of an “anomaly” and confirmed that all personnel were located and safe. According to collect The Guardian, the fireball destroyed the platform and the orange glow was seen more than 180 kilometers away, while residents of nearby towns noticed tremors in their homes. A year that was going to be the year of takeoff. The blow is especially hard because of the moment it arrives. Blue Origin had marked 2026 as the year to finally gain pace. Its CEO, Dave Limp, even stated in an interview with Ars Technica that the company could reach double digits in launches this year, until matching its production rate of 12 rockets, and even considering reaching 24 if manufacturing continued to improve. They also mentioned the 12 launches in their request to the FAA to operate from Cape Canaveral. The problem is that it was more of an ambitious goal than a realistic forecast, since the New Glenn has started the year without having flown again since November and experiencing several setbacks. The explosion has now turned that goal into a chimera. Bezos’ reaction. The founder of Blue Origin took the drama out of the matter, counting in Elon Musk also reacted to the event briefly: “Very unfortunate. Rockets are difficult.” Why it is important. The New Glenn It is the key piece with which the company wants to confront the dominance of SpaceX, and it is also called to play a central role in NASA’s Artemis programwhich seeks to return astronauts to the Moon. Just a few days before the explosion, the agency had awarded Blue Origin a contract to participate in the construction of a lunar base. The moment could not have been worse. A streak of setbacks. Blue Origin has accumulated a series of catastrophic misfortunes. On its third flight, in April, the rocket managed to land its reusable booster on a barge at sea, but its upper stage failed and failed to place the satellite it was transporting for AST SpaceMobile into orbit, which ended up falling and disintegrating in the atmosphere. That failure sparked an investigation by the FAA, the US air regulator, which just last week had given the rocket the green light to fly again. Thursday’s test was precisely the preparation of its fourth mission, in which it was going to deploy satellites of the network Leo from Amazona direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. Amazon clarified that none of those satellites were on board at the time of the explosion. Damage assessment. Both the FAA and NASA spoke out quickly. The regulator pointed out that the test was outside the activities it licenses and that it did not affect air traffic. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, on the other hand counted that “spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing a new heavy-lift capability is extraordinarily difficult.” The agency promised to support a thorough investigation and, above all, to evaluate how what happened affects its lunar programs. And now what. What we will now see is how Blue Origin rewrites its calendar. NASA was counting on New Glenn to launch the first missions to its lunar base this year, and the agency itself has acknowledged that they still do not know how this accident will affect the mission with Artemis. On the other hand, SpaceX has its own problems with the Starship, also under review by the FAAwhile preparing a historic IPO. The terrain is quite hot. Cover image | NASA Space Flight In Xataka | SpaceX seemed unreachable in its race to the Moon. Blue Origin is proving that anything is possible

Starlink has been ruining astronomers’ nights for years. Now it turns out that their launches are leaving their mark on the climate

Much has been said about the great light pollution that generate the Starlink satellites from SpaceX. However, not so much has been said about something that, if we think about it, is much more evident. Air pollution derived from launches. Any space launch, in fact, can generate this type of contamination. However, satellite trains require such a large number of launches that it is not unusual for them to be of particular concern to scientists today. 15,000 satellites and counting. A team of British and American scientists has carried out Recently a study brought this problem to the fore and predicted what the effects could be in the short term. This investigation indicates that there are currently around 15,000 telecommunications satellites in orbit, more than 10,000 of which belong to SpaceX. This represents three times as many satellites as in 2020 and the worst thing is that the number continues to increase. As a consequence, according to the simulations of these researchers, by 2029, these satellites could account for 40% of the atmospheric pollution derived from space activity. Also have calculated that by then this sector will be releasing around 870 tons of soot into the atmosphere annually. It would be more or less the same amount released by all cars in the United Kingdom, so action must be taken as soon as possible. Launch and reentry problems. The two key points at which these trains of satellites will put our planet’s climate on the ropes are launch and re-entry. With the first, a large amount of black carbon. These are fine carbon particles that come from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Regarding reentry, it mainly releases aluminum oxides. The satellites must be changed every 5 years. Later, when orbital conditions are favorable, this re-entry can occur, the price for which for the planet is also very expensive. The effects. Black carbon is harmful to the Earth’s climate on two levels. On the one hand, the particles that make it up have a great capacity to retain the heat of the Sun. That is why they play a very important role in the global warming of our planet. On the other hand, they can affect cloud formation in two different ways. Sometimes they prevent their formation, causing droughts, and other times they trigger extreme rainfall. Regarding aluminum oxides, can damage the ozone layerwith all the harmful effects that this entails. The place matters. The main problem with the release of these polluting substances is that it occurs in the highest layers of the atmosphere. The contamination at this height, if space activity did not exist, would be residual. However, the launches deposit that black carbon there, which remains for 2 to 3 years, retaining heat and affecting the clouds. That is why black carbon derived from space activity is estimated to have a much greater effect on the climate than that of ships, cars or power plants, for example. What is to come is very dangerous. It is said that Elon Musk wants to launch a million satellites into space. This is possibly an exaggerated figure. But it is clear that SpaceX has enormous objectives set. In fact, already It is even looking for launch platforms outside the United Statesbecause in his native country there is no room for such ambition. To all this we must add that other companies have increasingly ambitious objectives with their own satellite trains. This is, for example, the case of Amazon with Leo. The situation can become very worrying if alternatives are not sought, such as less polluting fuels for launches or more durable satellites that require fewer re-entries. Science will probably take us there at some point; but, in the meantime, the consequences for the planet will become worse and worse. We have time to solve it, but we must act now. Images | Gwendolyn Kurzen In Xataka | In 2018, Elon Musk put his own car into orbit. Eight years later it is still circling the Earth

Android 17 launches Pause Point, a function to save us from addictive apps. It is the paradox of the arsonist firefighter

Among all the news announced by Google a few days ago, without a doubt Gemini Intelligence It was the one that attracted the most attention, but it was not the only one. Android 17 also releases other changes Among which a function called ‘Pause Point’ caught my attention, an option that promises to save us from infinite scrolling by making us stop and think for a few seconds. When I discovered what Pause Point was, I did just that, stopped to think for a moment and realized the ironic of the situation. What is Pause Point “Have you ever spent 45 minutes scrolling and suddenly you realize that you don’t remember why you opened the phone?” This is how Google presents this new function that will arrive with Android 17 and that follows the line of others like Digital Wellbeing that was released with Android 9. Until now, if we wanted to limit the use of certain apps we could set timers or even block access completely, but according to Google this does not solve the problem: timers can be postponed and blocking sometimes makes it impractical if we need that app for something important. What they propose now is another different approach: when you open an app that usually distracts you, Pause Point is activated and makes you stop for 10 seconds to ask yourself “Why am I here?” During this break you can do a small breathing exercise or open the app, but setting a timer of 5, 15 or 30 minutes. It also offers you other apps to focus on, such as one for audiobooks. It makes sense: we have internalized certain patterns so much that we pick up our cell phone and open apps for no apparent reason, out of pure muscle memory. If we want to completely disable Pause Point, it is necessary to restart the phone. The goal is to make you stop and think before anything else. It makes sense and is something we have talked about before: we have internalized certain patterns so much, that we pick up our cell phone and open apps for no apparent reason, by Pure muscle memory. The arsonist who sells fire extinguishers In 2017 we were already talking about what was being set up an industry that promised to cure us of mobile addiction. There are all kinds of solutions that promise to reduce our screen time, from boring cell phones that make us use them lesseven accessories that They prevent us from opening certain apps. What is striking is when Those who offer the cure are the same ones who have created the problem. Recently, a judge in the United States has said that Meta, TikTok and Google They are guilty of having deliberately designed their products to generate addiction among young people, with functions such as autoplay or infinite scroll. Google defended itself arguing that “this case misinterprets YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social network.” It is true that the concept of “addictive” infinite scroll was born with apps like Snapchat, TikTok or Instagram, but let’s not forget that Google entered fully into this formula with YouTube Shorts and one is no less guilty for having committed the “crime” later than the rest. Google is not the only company that is offering the solution to a problem that they themselves are fueling. Instagram and TikTok also have features to help users disconnect from the app, but without leaving the appclear. As long as the metric that controls is usage time, these “detox” functions will be little more than a cosmetic patch in a system designed so that we never let go of our cell phone. One thing must be clear and that is that the business of these apps lies in Let us spend as much time as possible on them. Only then do we see more advertising and buy more products. We live in the attention economy and, as long as the metric that controls is the time of use, these “detox” functions will be little more than a cosmetic patch in a system designed so that we never let go of the mobile. Images | Google In Xataka | The psychology of doomscrolling: the trap our brain is programmed to fall into again and again

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